Ballbug: Is Joe Saunders a Double Play Machine? (Russell A. Carleton/Baseball Prospectus)

Bob Nightengale / USA Today:

Nationals despised for sitting Strasburg — Bob Nightengale: Baseball executives say the Washington Nationals' playoff run is not a feel-good story. — Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo turned a lot of heads when he said the club will be back to win a couple more NL East titles.

Discussion: DC Sports Bog and HardballTalk

Fox Sports:

Nationals sure could use Strasburg — WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sorry, it's time to utter the “S” word. — Heck, some of the Washington Nationals' players are saying it, with very little prompting. — “If we had 'Stras, we'd be up 2-0,” one player told me Tuesday.

Discussion: Federal Baseball, Hit and Run, DC Sports Bog, Baseball Prospectus and HardballTalk

Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
On Baseball: Carpenter's Return Animates the Cardinals

Discussion: baseballmusings.com and MLB Rumors

MLB.com:
Game times after Wednesday still in flux

Discussion: Federal Baseball

Gordon Edes / ESPN:

Red Sox set for manager search — The Boston Red Sox plan to begin their search for a new manager on Friday, which is when CEO Larry Lucchino is expected to return to Boston after a trip to Europe, according to a baseball source. — The source did not identify any specific candidates.

Discussion: Over the Monster, MLB and Boston Globe

Red Sox eye Tim Wallach for manager's job — The Red Sox have contacted Dodgers third base coach Tim Wallach to gauge his interest in their managerial vacancy. Wallach is interested, and is expected to be one of the candidates interviewed in the coming days.

Discussion: Boston Sports Media Watch, Boston Herald, MLB Daily Dish and HardballTalk

ESPN:

Ibanez replaces A-Rod, hits tying, winning HRs — NEW YORK — Joe Girardi decided to leave Alex Rodriguez in the third spot in the New York Yankees' batting order for Game 3 of their AL Division Series against the Baltimore Orioles. — But that was to start the game.

Discussion: Baseball Nation, Associated Press, Camden Chat, BBTF's Baseball Primer …, Yahoo! Sports and ESPN.com

Gregor Chisholm / MLB.com:

Jeter shrugs off injury, says he'll play in Game 4 — Captain fouled ball off foot in third inning, departed after eighth — NEW YORK — If Derek Jeter has his way, there's no chance he'll be left out of the Yankees' starting lineup for Game 4 of the American League Division Series on Thursday night.

Discussion: MLB Daily Dish

Associated Press:

Tigers Go Ahead 1-0 on A's With Jackson RBI Single — OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Max Scherzer struck out five Oakland batters and Austin Jackson hit an RBI single as the Detroit Tigers took a 1-0 lead against the Athletics after three innings in Game 4 of their AL division series Wednesday night.

Discussion: Baseball America, Athletics Nation and Yahoo! Sports

Adam McCalvy / MLB.com:

Latos or Leake the options for Reds in Game 4 — Latos would go on three days' rest, while Leake would replace Cueto on roster — CINCINNATI — Who will start for the Reds in Game 4 of the National League Division Series opposite Barry Zito and the Giants? — As of Tuesday night, his name was TBA.

Discussion: Baseball Prospectus, Baseball Nation, McCovey Chronicles, Brew Crew Ball, Red Reporter and HardballTalk

Discussion: TSN.ca, ESPN, MLB, McCovey Chronicles and VFTB

Chris Toman / MLB.com:

Litsch opts for free agency after coming off DL — TORONTO — The Blue Jays reinstated pitcher Jesse Litsch from the 60-day disabled list Wednesday and instead of accepting an outright assignment to the Minor Leagues, the right-hander opted for free agency.

Discussion: MLB Daily Dish

Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com:

Tigers move past loss quickly to gear up for Game 5 — OAKLAND — The sounds of celebration in the visiting clubhouse at The Coliseum, the popping of corks and the spraying of champagne were replaced by silence. — There were no cheers, no bear hugs and absolutely nobody was smiling.

Discussion: HardballTalk

Russell A. Carleton / Baseball Prospectus:

Is Joe Saunders a Double Play Machine? — On last Friday's episode of Effectively Wild, the daily podcast from Baseball Prospectus, our own Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller (and guest Marc Normandin) discussed Buck Showalter's decision to start Joe Saunders in the AL wild card play-in game against the Texas Rangers.

Discussion: THE BOOK

Greg Johns / MLB.com:

Felix extension among Zduriencik's possible moves — Report has Mariners in deep contract talks with ace hurler — Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik has multiple goals this offseason, possibly including an extension for Felix Hernandez. (AP) — SEATTLE — Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik …